Gilliland Hoping To Capitalize On Past Windy City Speed

Todd Gilliland (Peter Casey/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

CHICAGO – Teams that haven’t won through 18 weeks in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season are likely looking at the calendar, picking and choosing where they feel like they can contend to make the playoffs.

On the streets of Chicago this weekend, Todd Gilliland feels he can create a strong push for Front Row Motorsports to get closer to victory lane.

“I’m excited to go back to Chicago. It’s definitely a really fun place and a fun city to hang out,” said Gilliland during a Tuesday media availability. “I don’t necessarily mind the rain if it comes. We’ve run well in the past there, but on the flip side of it, I’m ready for Chicago to have a weekend go as planned and hope the fans can experience all of that fun stuff behind the scenes.

“I think the whole experience would be much smoother without rain, and I’m hoping that for the fans for sure.”

NASCAR’s only street race was affected by rain the last two visits, and this weekend the forecast calls for showers at a 50 percent chance. However, Gilliland has two finishes inside the top 20 and was seventh last year in Chicago.

“I think Chicago is probably the biggest risk versus reward racetracks that we go to because being aggressive doesn’t really pay off there,” said the fourth year Cup Series driver. “Whether it’s getting as close as you can to the apexes, which are all walls and using up all the exit room, but on the flip side of it the risk of it is massive because you’re not going to run off and get stuck in gravel or hit a curb.

“You’re going to hit a wall or a tire barrier, so it’s definitely about managing all that stuff. There’s a time and a place to put it all on the line, but you have to finish the race,” he added. “The toe links and suspension and all that stuff has to be intact, so that’s the main goal and definitely balancing aggression is big.”

Gilliland earned stage points at Chicago last season, as he was eighth in stage one. From there he managed to work his way through the challenges the rainy ‘Windy City’ brought all drivers last season for a top 10.

The 25-year-old’s success on the streets of Chicago speaks towards his success and skill on road courses. It’s a tool in Gilliland’s wheelhouse alongside being one of the better superspeedway racers in the sport.

He has a top 20 average finish on road courses, which ranks first amongst his totals in short, intermediate and drafting style venues. He has six top 12 finishes on road courses in four seasons, and as of late his best road finish was 10th at Circuit of the Americas in Texas back in March.

“It’s just been gaining more race experience. I never grew up go-karting or anything like that. I’ve always ran ovals my whole life. I remember my first road course race in the K&N (Pro) Series (now ARCA Menards Series East and West) not too long ago, but on the other hand, since I’ve been in the Cup Series I’ve had a couple of go-karts and been out to the go-kart track a little bit,” Gilliland said.

Todd Gilliland has become a solid road racer in the NASCAR Cup Series. (Nickolas Wolf/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

“It's not necessarily the same. I’ve run a ton of laps on the simulator. I think that is probably the biggest thing that I focused on. I feel like just about every driver at the Cup Series level, after three laps at a road course, you’re gonna be fairly close and in the ballpark,” he continued. “I’ve tried to focus on the first lap. Having a good idea of brake markers, running so many laps on the sim that you know the course like the back of your hand.

“The field evens out very quickly, but what I’ve been working on myself is hitting the track and being at my best right away.”

The Statesville, N.C., native said Chicago’s racing lines are self-explanatory due to the various 90-degree corners on the track layout. This weekend he wants to have a wide entry in corners to set up straight shots down straightaways. It’s all about angling and setting up corners for his success Sunday.

This season Gilliland stepped into the role of an organization leader for Front Row with the departure of veteran Michael McDowell, who went to Spire Motorsports prior to the season.

Gilliland has tried to deepen his relationships with his new teammates and longtime friends Noah Gragson and Zane Smith, noting that there is a new wave of young energy within the organization.

“I think there’s always constant evolution of us as people and our roles. It’s definitely switched a lot with Michael leaving. He was here for a long time and built a lot of great relationships. For me, it’s about getting relationships deeper with the guys here and them trusting me, and for me to trust them,” he said. “That’s what Michael did for a long time and that definitely helped him out.”

Although he sits 28th in the overall points standings entering the weekend, Gilliland knows one race can change the fate of his season. That is why Chicago is so important to him and Front Row Motorsports.

His climb towards victory lane starts on Sunday.

“To rank where I feel like we could go out and win at this point of the year, Atlanta would have been a strong one for us. Superspeedways and short tracks are numbers one and two. Road courses and then probably intermediates, so I feel strong anywhere,” he said. “I thought we looked really strong in practice at Mexico City. We had a strong qualifying effort there, but didn’t race well. We have good speed, but that’s what separates average guys on road courses to good guys is having that speed right away, which I feel like I have now.

“It comes down to being smart with your tires and making them last. We have a little bit to go to have race-winning speed at a road course,” he said. But I definitely think we’re getting closer, especially with our results last year.”

Coverage of the Grant Park 165 in Chicago begins Sunday, July 6 at 2 p.m. ET on TNT Sports, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.